Power steering-gear for traction-engines.



H. G. CLAY.

POWER STEERING GEAR FOB. TRAOTION'ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 26, 1912.

1,072,824, Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

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COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH C0., WASHINGTON, D- c.

, H.C.CLAY. POWER STEERING GEAR FOR TRACTION ENGINES.

APPLIOATION FILED DBO. 26, 1912.

1,072,824, Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

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HARRY o. CLAY, or COLUMBUS, INDIANA, AssIGnoR' TO EMERSON-BRANTINGHAM ooMrnnY, oF RooKFoRn, ILLINoIs, A COBPGRATION or ILLINOIS.

POWER, STEERING-GEAR FOB TRACTION-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

Application filed December 26, 1912. Serial No. 738,736.

Thls invention relates to power steering gears for traction engines such as described in my patent for sameNo. 797,557, dated Aug, 22, 1905.

The object of this invention is toimprove the working of said device by providing meansfor. frictionally engaging the disk member when said member is not in an operative position, that is, when not in engagement with the peripheral surface of an engine-pulley. I

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation showingthe application of the steering device to a traction engine. Fig. 2=is an enlarged section on the line a a oflFig. 1.; Fig. 3 is a section o-njthe line 6-?) of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a "section on the line c,c of Fig; 2, showing the friction plunger engaging the friction disk. Fig. 5 isa similar section showing the friction disk pivoted, engaging theiperipheral face of the engi'ne-pulleyand the plunger released from contact with the disk.' 1

' The steering device may be suitably: at-

tached to the traction engine in order, to get the friction disk in the desired position relative to the engine pulley. The traction englue is shown fragmentarily to show such convenient support, and theframe-thereof comprises the longitudinal channel-sides 1 and 2 and transverse'channel-beams 3.

the channel-beams 3, carriesthe oppositely positioned pivot-screws 5 which screws pivotally support aidisk-bracket 6. Journaled inthe disk-bracket on an axis substantially radial *witli the center ofthe enginopulley 7 is the shaft 8, carrying fixedly therewith the friction-disk 9 and sprocket-pinion 10, the

' shaft 8 being held from longitudinal dis- {placement by the collar 11. A yoked f bracket 12 is bolted to the frame 4: andsup ports-in the journal bearings 13 at its ends a shaft 14, which fixedly carries the 1 sprocket-gear 15 running in alinement with j the sprocket-pinion 10, andthe sprocket-l pinion 16. An endless chain connects said,

sprocket gear and pinion. The sprocket-l pinion 16 is connected by an endless chain with the sprocket-gear l7 fixedly mounted on shaft 18 which is journaled in the bracket 19 bolted to side channel-beam 1. The worm 20 secured to shaft 18 drives with wormgear 21 and drives the chain shaft 22 which has the usual chain connection with the guide wheel truck.

7 Pivotally connected to the head of diskbracket 6 is the bifurcated link 23 which has an adjustable connection with the rod 24;. The hand-wheel 25 is secured to shaft 26 and movement is imparted from said shaft to rod 2 1 through the medium of crank 27 secured to shaft 26, rod 28, and rocking lever 29 pivotally supportedl and having connection with TOdQff. j

A plunger 30 having a reduced shank 31 is slidably carried by the disk-bracket 6, parallelwith shaft 8 and a spring 32 coiled about shank 31 is compressed between the shoulder of plunger 30 and the lateral extension 33 of the disk-bracket 6, and holds the plunger yieldingly into engagement with the back of the friction-disk 9 at a point near the peripheral edge of said disk. A rod 3 1 bolted to channel-beam 1 has a pivotal connection with the top of the T-link 35 which has laterally extending ears 36, the ears being adapted ,whenthe frictiondisk is pivoted, to contact the heads of the screws 37 carried by the lateral extension 33 of the disk-bracket.

The operation of the friction-disk and plunger is ,as follows: The steering device excepting as to Fig. 5, is shown-in its normal inoperative position. The operator by I turning handswheel 25 to the left, pivots A yoked frame at, fixedly secured to one of thedisk-bracket 6 through the medium of the lever connection above described, so that the outercircular portion offthe face ofdisk 9 is brought into "frictional contact with the peripheral face ofthe engine-pulley 7, as shown inFig. 5, thereby revolving said disk and likewise the chain-shaft 22- through the medium of the chain connections and drive therewith. As seen in Fig. 5, when the disk-bracket is thus pivoted one of the ears 36 will contact the. adjacent screw-head37, causing the T-link 35 to fulcrum from said contact point and raise the plunger 30 against the action of spring 32, thereby disconnecting the frictional engagement between the plunger and disk and allowing the disk to be rotated by the engine-pulley. then in a steering device of this sort without the disk stop, the guide wheel has been sufficiently turned and the handwl1eel 25 operated to bring the several parts back to their normal position, the momentum of the friction-disk received by its contact with the engine-pulley, causes it to continue rotating for a short time thereby not making the steering absolutely positive. But with my improved device the moment the friction disk is disengaged from the engine-pulley, the plunger 30, through the action of bringing the parts back to their normalposition by the hand-wheel 25, and also by the aid of spring 32, is instantly brought into frictional contact with the back face of the rotating disk, thereby stopping such rotation and rendering the action of the steering absolutely positive.

It will be seen also that the tensional action of spring 32 cooperates in holding the several parts in their normal position, also holding the disk face parallel with the face of -the engine-pulley thereby disengaged from said pulley. 'Turningthe handwheel to the right causes the friction-disk to engage the opposite side of the enginepulley thereby reversing the direction of rotation of said disk, likewise the direction ofthe guide-wheel truck, and operates the disk stopping parts in asimilar manner to that above described, the T-link being pivoted oppositely to'thatsho-wn. p But slight movement of hand-wheel 25 is necessary to turn the guide-wheel truck'in either direction, as will be evidenced by the direct connections to and from the friction-disk and also because of the novel provision for securing positive action of said disk. 7

-. I claim as my invention:

1. A power steeringgear attachment for traction engines consisting of a main bracket adapted to be suitably connected to a traction engine, a disk-bracket pivotally' mounted on the main bracket, a friction-disk journaled .in said disk bracket and provided with a friction face, a plunger carried by the disk-bracketand adapted to be brought into frictional contact with said disk, and a driving connection of'a traction engine. 7

2. A power steering-gear attachment for traction engines consisting of a main between said disk and the steeringmeans bracket adapted to be suitably connected to a traction engine, a disk-bracket p1votally mounted on the main bracket, afri'ction-disk journaled in said disk-bracket and provided with a friction face, means for swinging the disk-bracket on the main bracket, means for frictionally "contacting said disk when the disk is in an operative position, and a driving connection between said disk and the steering means ofa traction engine.

3. A power steering-gear attachmentlfor traction engines consisting of amain bracket adapted to be suitably connected to a tra'c-' tion engine, a disk-bracket pivotally mounted on the main bracket, a'frictlon-disk ournaled in said disk-bracket andprovided with I a friction face, means for swinging the diskbracket on the main bracket, means for 116 .tionally contacting said disk when the disk is in an inoperative position, said last mentioned means being adapted to hold the diskbracket in an inoperative position, and a.

driving connection bet-ween said disk and the steering means of a traction engine.

4. A power steering-gearattachmentfor traction engines consisting of a main bracket adapted to be suitably connected to a trac ,tion engine, a disk-bracketpivotally mounted on the main bracket, a friction-disk journaled in the disk-bracket and adapted to contact the engine pulley on either side of a the'pivotaxis of said disk-bracket, and a plunger carried by the disk-bracket andadapted 'to frictionally contact said disk when the disk is not in frictional contact with the engine pulley.v

5. A power steering-gear gines comprising a friction-disk, means'for supporting said disk adjacent the face of 'an for traction enengine-pulley with its axis substantially radial to said pulley, a plunger adapted to rest v in frictional contact with said "disk, means.

for swinging said disk in a plane substantially radial to theiengine-pulley whereby the plunger will be withdrawnfroni 'c'ontact with the disk and the disk willfbe brought into frictional contact with the face of the engine-pulley on either side'of-the axis of swing of the disk to rotate said'disk in eitherdirection',-and a driving connection between the disk and steering mechanism of a traction engine.

6. A power steermg-gearfor traction engines comprising a disk-bracket, a frictiondisk journaled therein, the disk-bracket be ing pivotally supported so as to bring the face ofthe disk adjacent. theface' offan" engine-pulley, a plunger carried bythe diskbracket, means for yieldingly holding the plunger in frictional contact with said disk,

means for swinging 'saiddisk-bracket on its .7

pivot: axis" whereby the plunger is with drawn from its frictional contact/with the disk against the action of {said yielding means and the disk is brought into fric tional'contact-with the face'of said'enginepulley on either side ofsaid pivot. axis, and

a driving connection betweenthedisk and" steering mechanismof a traction engine.

7. A power steering-gear for traction engines comprlsing a rotatable friction-disk supported adjacent the face of an enginepulley "and adaptedtobe swung into and out of frictional contact with said pulley face to each side of the axis of swing of said disk to rotate the disk in opposite directions, a friction-stop adapted to stop the rotation of said disk when the disk has been disengaged from frictional contact with the pulley face, and a driving cdnnection between the disk and the steering mechanism of a traction engine.

8. A power steering-gear for traction engines comprisinga rotatable friction disk supported adjacent the face of an enginepulley and adapted to be swung into and out of frictional contact with said pulley face to each side of the axis of swing of said disk to rotate the disk in opposite directions, a frictionstop adapted to stop the rotation of said disk when the disk has been disengaged from frictional contact with the pulley face, adjustable means adapted tovary the point at which the friction stop contacts the disk relative to said disengagement of the frictional contact between the opposite directions, a friction-stop adapted to stop the rotation of said disk when the disk has been disengaged from the pulley, and a driving connection between the disk and the steering mechanism of a traction engine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY G. CLAY.

Witnesses:

J. H. BAcH'rEL, PERRY KING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

